Shira Blustein might know the stretch of Main Street around her Michelin recommended restaurant The Acorn better than anyone. Not only has she been running her beloved plant-based room with husband Scott Lewis since 2012, she says, “We’ve been living within four blocks for 20 years now.” (Recently, she and Lewis have dug their roots in even deeper, opening Indian restaurant Lila a few doors down with fellow acclaimed restaurateur Meeru Dhalwala.)
Their most recent move was a decade ago, into a circa-1910 building in the neighbourhood. Some serious renovations were in order—the unit was getting power through an electrical cord that snaked through the stairwell. But once things were fixed up behind the scenes, the couple could turn their attention to the aesthetics of their home sweet home. Original sketches for the space were drawn up by the Acorn’s bar manager, who was in her early days of architecture school: the first rendition included a floating fireplace, a hidden bar and a loft all the way to the stairs. “Unfortunately, she hadn’t got to the part of the program where you deal with structure,” jokes Lewis. “Our actual architect who came in to do the project with us was like, ‘Well, where’s your laundry going to go?’ And we’re like, ‘What? Laundry? And the ceiling’s going to collapse? Interesting.’” The plans for the jam space and the kiln got scrapped—in retrospect, for the better. “Priorities have changed a little bit since then,” says Lewis; he and Blustein are now raising their two young daughters here (Vee, now age eight, and Alita, five).
With the help of interior design firm Studio Roslyn, a space emerged that found the sweet spot between practicality and rock-and-roll cool. (“In case it’s not obvious, I’m really into black,” says Blustein.) It’s a home designed with monochrome drama and space for grand works of art, but also toy-storage galore. You’ll usually find the family gathered in the high ceilinged great room, cooking in the Nero-Marquina marble-clad kitchen or listening to records by the fireplace. “We built a playroom, but the kids just want to do everything here together,” says Blustein. Also here to hang? Two cats, one of whom is a grey-calico who did not get the memo about Blustein’s preferred colour palette. “She should have black fur, honestly,” she deadpans.
1. Checkmate
The gas fireplace looks just like a wood-burning unit, bringing a cozy, vintage vibe to the living area. The girls made the most of the chess set during the photo shoot. “They’re not usually like that,” laughs Blustein.
2. Coffee Date
The in-wall JennAir coffee maker was high on the wish list. “We did a farm dinner at Klippers around 10 years ago, and they had an in-wall coffee maker and it became a long-running dream of ours to have coffee at the push of a button,” says Blustein. Nero Marquina marble lines the oversized island in the kitchen, and the material is echoed elsewhere in the home—like a custom cabinet under the record player and in the ensuite bathroom.
3. Music Makers
Blustein bought her autoharp after falling in love with the PJ Harvey album Let England Shake. “I brought it to a guitar tech in town and he re-tuned it for me to give it minor chords. Otherwise, it was kind of too happy-sounding for me.” Next to the record player, a cast-plaster speaker is on display from artist Laura Piasta.
4. Canvas Crush
Inside the home, there’s plenty more local art to be admired, including pieces by Niall McClelland (above) and an oversized, untitled painting by Lewis (below). Lewis is also the artist responsible for the captivating mural on the wall at Lila.
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